A global trend appears to be increasingly clear: it is expected that by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in large cities, making the use of high-density buildings necessary. Unsurprisingly, over the last decade, there has been a steady growth in skyscrapers, which has also fueled technological research in the elevator industry.
Moreover, the “map” of the global population will change. For example, while in 1950, 53% of the urban population lived in Europe and North America, by 2050, this percentage will plummet to 9%, primarily due to Europe’s demographic decline and the rise of Asia and Africa. The cities of the future will be “taller” and mostly new, either constructed from scratch or renovated, incorporating cutting-edge technologies still under experimentation. For instance, the growing height of buildings has led to a demand for lightweight, fast, and stable elevator systems, such as the innovative carbon fiber lift technology that can reach up to 1,000 meters. This is implemented in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower, which boasts 65 elevators of this kind.
Super-tall buildings will need to accommodate and regulate the lives of thousands of people, requiring vertical transportation that is fast, quiet, safe, energy-efficient, and reliable. Another example of advanced technology in vertical mobility is modular prefabricated elevators, recently tested in London’s King’s Cross S5 building. These systems are increasingly used in medium-height buildings, offering faster, safer, and regulation-compliant construction processes.
The issue of international standards is also crucial. Today, every country has specific standards for building control, design, construction methods, environmental impact, and more. For example, in the UK, elevator design must meet rigorous standards such as BS EN 81-20 and BS EN 81-50. Updates to building regulations, including new requirements for fire safety and emergency evacuation systems, significantly influence elevator design.
